Viewers were left gutted having to say goodbye to shepherdess Amanda Owen after her hit show Our Yorkshire Farm came to an emotional end last year.
When the Channel 5 series, which followed Amanda and her large family on Ravenseat Farm, had its finale on November 16 fans flocked to social media to plead with the TV star to make a return for another series.
But, sadly, the pleas may have fallen on deaf ears as it appears that 2021 packed a bit too much on the 47-year-old’s plate.
These included Amanda bagging a time-consuming new presenting gig on the BBC that took her away from her the farm and also reportedly facing marital issues with husband Clive Owen, 68.
Both factors are believed to have contributed to her to throwing in the towel in on Channel 5’s most watched factual show.
Almost four million viewers tuned in each week to follow the lives of Amanda, Clive and their brood of nine children, including: Raven, 20, Reuben, 18, Miles, 15, Edith, 12, Violet, 10, Sidney, nine, Anna, seven, Clemmy, six, and Nancy, as they grappled with the everyday realities of farm living.
While many now deal with their Our Yorkshire Farm withdrawals, we take a look at Amanda’s heady year of change that led to joyous Our Yorkshire Farm signing off after five successful years on our screens.
. The big move
In recent episodes, fans watched as Amanda prepared to leave Ravenseat, which is part of a lucrative estate owned by Duty Free Shop billionaire Robert Miller, 88, after 25 years.
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She and her family have decided to relocate to a rundown farm, Anty Johns, in Upper Swaledale only a mile away.
Anty Johns was shown on recent episodes as Amanda and the clan took on the huge task of renovating it.
Amanda’s new show
Although Our Yorkshire Farm was an ensemble family show, Amanda became the breakout star and bagged a new solo presenting gig on the BBC.
On November 29 on BBC 4, Amanda debuted as the first to front Winter Walks, a show which follows her as she hikes from Bainbridge and Semer Water and sharing the joy of taking in the countryside.
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In a recent episode was seen walking across hills and fields in North Yorkshire and taking routes first made by the Romans and exchanging notes with fellow sheep farmers.
The star admitted in the programme how strange it was to be leading a series without her family and opened up on feeling “guilty” when she is not working on her farm.
She explained: “It feels just a bit strange because I’m on my own. There’s nobody nipping at my heels, there’s nobody asking questions.
“That’s not to say that I don’t like being out and about with the family and the children – of course that’s great – but the old analogy, a dog being like its owner, is true.
“Because sheep dogs can’t switch off. They just want to work, their minds are buzzing. That’s how I feel.
“So many different things coming at you from so many directions. A bit of headspace is good for everyone.”
Marriage changes
Amanda admitted to have had a difficult time in 2021 with husband Clive.
She recently gave a glimpse into her family Christmas, which included snowy walks through the farm and writing letters to Santa in front of the fire at the 2,000-acre tenant farm Ravenseet.
Notably absent from the festive snaps on Instagram was Clive, who was reported to have been living in a rented flat near the family home since autumn .
The couple recently faced speculation that their marriage was on the rocks after neighbours claimed the two had been “living apart for months.”
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The pair, who has been married for 21 years, released a joint statement in October which said, ‘like any marriage we have our stresses and strains’ but added they always wanted to ‘show the reality of life on the farm’ through their TV shows and book deals.
She previously admitted that “romance” is not in her and Clive’s “make-up”.
When asked if Clive was romantic, she told OK! magazine: “I don’t think either of us are! I don’t think it’s in our make-up.’
“Everything we do is interchangeable. Clive will serve afternoon tea and change nappies, I’ll shear sheep and shovel s**t. It doesn’t matter who does what, we’re all on the same side.”
Amanda’s daughter’s Christmas Day accident
Amanda sparked concern on social media after her youngest daughter Nancy suffered an accident on Christmas Day.
During the festive season, Amanda took to Twitter to tell fans that the five-year-old “swallowed a biro.”
However, she went on to assure fans that Nancy was “fine” despite the incident, although she was s “spitting ink.”
Baby number 10
Despite a rumoured marriage rift and already having a brood of nine – Amanda stunned fans by admitting that a tenth child could be on the cards.
In November, when asked by OK! if she’d thought about having another baby, the shepherdess replied: “I don’t know! If anyone knows anything it’s honestly that I have not got a plan. I plan for today and maybe tomorrow and that’s where it stops.”
The star’s children often make an appearance in the programme and Amanda said they always choose whether they want to be in it or not joking that if they’re not it’s because they’ve “found something better to do”.
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